System and apparatus for producing sound



March 26, 1929. w. D. SMITH.

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SOUND Filed 001;. 8, 1927 W OL ,LQ igM'ca INVENTOR i etented 26, i9.

iJNiiED STATES 1,706,549 PATENT OFFICE.

WINFIELD 1). SMITH, OF DEAL, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS G.

sYLvEs'rE'R, or

SCRA NTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed October 8. 1927. Serial No. 224,986.

My invention relates to a system and appa- 1 5 created by a plurality ofmusical in smunents-and itis my object to produce a w 'lem and apparatusby means of which the musical instruments such as were used in makingthe sound may be replayed by the rlectricz-il impulses thereby producingacumpletc recreation of the original sounds.

In the drawing Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic representation of the apparatusused for replnying a simple combination of the instruments used inmaking a sound record; and Fig. 2 a. die rammatic representation of aslightly modified form of my invention. It is apparent that theprinciples involved maybe applied to any kind or number of musicalinstrumcnts played in ensemble or to any sounds.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I will take a talking machinerecord i having thereon a sound groove made by a brass quartette,composed of a comet, a trumpet, a trombone and an alto horn. This recordis revolved in the usual manner mechanism. Engaging the sound groove isa generatingtransmitter 2 of the type shown in my co-pending applicationScr. No. 77,329, tiled December 23, 1925, by means of which the recordedsound waves are converted into electrical impulses correspondingthereto. This current is then fed through an audio am plifying device 3of any desired type. The eornet 4, trumpet 5, trombone 6 and alto horn 7each has, in lieu of its regular mouthpiece, a telephone receiver 8 ofthe type used in radio loud speakers. These receivers are all connectedto the output side of the audio amplifier 3.

When the record is revolved the generated electrical impulses areamplified and fed to the receivers 8. As each instrument has an aircoiumn of determined or fixed characteristics will strongly amplify theaudio frequencies on the record which come within the range of i.column. The audio frequencies outside the characteristics of the aircolumn will be it ,hly, if at all, reproduced by that instrument. Inother words, the comet will strongly produce the comet sounds, thetrumpet will strongly produce the trumpet sounds, the. trombone willstrongly produce the trombone sounds and th alto horn will stronglyproduce the alt-o horn soundsdfie to. the sympathetii vibration-sci theair columns. As the us for producing sound from electrical inn-- by anysuitable instruments (or'fac-similes of them) which made the record areused in recreating, the audio results will be the same as the originalplaying, due to the fuctithat air columns of the same clwracteristicsandsympathetic vibations, enclosed in the same materials, are used. Itshould be noted that perfect recreation in those instruments havingadjustable valves will be more truly resonant to pitch when the aircolumns have been so matched.

Any desired instrument, or combination of instruments, may be playedfrom a record of them. It is also possible to des gn a'battery of horns,each having an air column correspomling to the air column of theinstrument to be strongly amplified, and preferably made of the samematerial as the original instrument, which will perform the functions ofthe instruments themselves.

As shown in Fig. 2 a single loud s caker unit 9 may be connected to theplurality of hornsor instruments and the air columns will vibrate insympathy with the recorded notes on the record thereby reproducing themwith the utmost fidelity.

I am aware that a plurality of loud speakers have been attached to andoperated from a single sound record but so far as I am aware I am thefirst to .use a plurality of instruments or fac-similes thereof) havingconsequently the same audio vibratory characteristics as the instrumentsrecord and actuating them accurately corded.

I claim:

1. A sound producer comprising machine record .made from, a p

simultaneously to recreate the sounds originally rea talking urality ofmusical instruments, a generating transmit- .rality of musicalinstruments each matching in size, shape and material and having thecharacteristics of the air column of an instrumen!) used in originallymaking the sound recused in making the sound 0rd, and telephonicreceiver separately opera tively connected to each air column wherebyeach air column accurately recreates its corresponding instrument usedin milking the original sound record. v

3; The method of producing sound consisting in generating electricalimpulses corresponding to the playing of a plurality of musicalinstrui'nents, unplifying said impulses and finally recreating themthrough applui ality of musical instrumentshavingrthesame audiovibratory characteristics as the instruments creating theelectrical'inipulses,

mos es for converting sound waves produced by a" plurality of musicalinstruments into corre- '-'spondin electrical impulses, en'audioiamplrplurality of telephon c receivers and fier, a musical instruments havingtliefsame audio vibratory characteristics as thoseused in, generatingthe electrical impulses 'operetiyely connected with the receivers. v

In testimony whereof 'I' l1ave afi'ixed my signature. 1

' WIN'FIELD 1): SMITH;-

